“We have already seen some huge changes in that space in New Zealand in the last few years since we came on board here and have more changes, like online casino licences, coming in the New Zealand market.
“So while we will still have the full knowledge and resources of the huge international business that is Entain behind us, this role has been created to make sure we have a focus on New Zealand and its unique challenges and strengths.”
Chris Ward has been appointed as Australia managing director and he and Haigh will report into Entain Australia and New Zealand chief executive Andrew Vouris.
“These changes position Entain for the next phase of our growth,” Vouris said.
“They keep us focused on innovating for our customers, strengthen accountability and disciplined execution across both markets, while continuing to strengthen our compliance culture.”
While Haigh has been entrenched in Entain’s Australian business, he is a Kiwi, born on the North Shore, a graduate of Takapuna Grammar and the University of Auckland, where he studied structural engineering.
After moving to Australia he worked for Virgin and Foxtel before joining Entain but relished the opportunity to return home two years ago to live in the Waikato with his family.
“I loved my time in Australia and really value Entain’s Australian business but I am still an All Blacks and Wahs fan,” he said.
Haigh is also an avid marathon runner but his love of sport has provided some rollercoaster rides in recent weeks.
“The World Cup has been enormous for the TAB here obviously,” he said.
“We find that one thing the two markets [Australia and New Zealand] share are punters really leaning into huge events and they obviously don’t come any bigger than the World Cup.
“But the punters have had some really big results, like Kylian Mbappe scoring twice for France in today’s win over Sweden. That really stings us but there are days we win and days the punters win, which is what it is all about.
“It has been amazing to watch it all unfold.”
Entain’s New Zealand business having its own managing director can only be good for its local relationships as running such a dynamic business predominantly from another country presents challenges.
Haigh will step into the senior role as one of the TAB and Entain’s best-known executives, Sam Moncur, gets set to leave the business.
“It’s been a privilege to be part of Entain’s journey and to help establish our partnership with TAB NZ,” Moncur said.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and I leave knowing the business is in great hands with my fellow Kiwi in Chris Haigh.”
Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.